Long Beach Police, D.A. investigating officer-involved shooting

LONG BEACH — Long Beach Police Department Homicide detectives and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office have launched an investigation into an officer-involved shooting of a parolee and suspected gang-member who allegedly pulled a gun on a patrolman, police said Friday morning.

The incident occurred at about 11:55 p.m. in North Long Beach, said Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.

The officer was patrolling the area of Atlantic Avenue and East 51 st Street when he spotted a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, Pratt said.

As the officer prepared to stop the vehicle, the driver abruptly pulled over in the 500 block of East 51 st Street near Atlantic Avenue, got out of the vehicle and began to walk away, police said.

"The officer ordered the driver, who acted as if he was going to run, to stop," Pratt said. "Without warning, the suspect produced a handgun."

Pratt said the officer drew his own weapon and opened fire.

The suspect, who was identified only as a 26-year-old Long Beach man, was hit in the lower torso and taken by Long Beach Fire Department paramedics to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition Friday and expected to survive, Pratt said.

No other people were hurt, including the officer, and no one else was in the suspect's car, she said.

The suspect now faces a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and gang enhancements, Pratt said.

The shooting marks the fourth such incident for the police department since late last year.

The most recent incident, which occurred Sunday, involved the shooting and killing of a pit bull that attacked a woman walking her dogs near the 300 block of East Coolidge Street.

On April 19, officers shot and wounded a man in his 30 s who had shot and killed another man at a gas station near Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue, then opened fired on responding officers.

On Dec. 31, shortly before midnight, officers shot and wounded a 25-year-old gunman who officials said had charged at officers after they responded to the sound of gunfire in the 1700 block of Cherry Avenue.

The police department's Homicide Detail is investigating Thursday night's incident, as is policy with all officer-involved shootings, Pratt said.

In addition to the internal investigation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is conducting an independent investigation, which is also routine, Pratt said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call LBPD Homicide Detectives Terri Hubert and Mark Bigel at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be sent via text or email at www.tipsoft.com.